ASICS is raising spirits, raising funds and conducting research into the power of movement to uplift minds.
ASICS is inviting people to move together to raise spirits, raise funds and contribute to ground-breaking research. ASICS, an acronym for the Latin ‘Anima Sana in Corpore Sano’ or ‘a Sound Mind in a Sound Body’, has championed the positive impact of sport on the body and the mind for over 70 years. Now, in 2021 and beyond ASICS’ aim is to inspire and support millions more people to move for positive mental health.
Run together and uplift the world at ASICS World Ekiden 2021
ASICS is inviting teams of up to six people to run together to uplift the world by completing the ASICS World Ekiden 2021. The Japanese inspired Ekiden is a virtual relay race designed for people all abilities to get out and move together for body and for mind. Spilt into six legs of varying distances (three of 5K, two of 10K and one of a 7.2K), the race sees teams pass a digital tasuki – a narrow band of fabric associated with traditional Ekidens – between them as they run a combined virtual marathon.
Following on from the success of last year’s inaugural event, which brought together over 56,000 people from 179 different countries ASICS is once again calling on runners all over the world to unite and run together with their team between 10-22 November 2021, as part of its continued mission to uplift the world through sport in 2021 and beyond. This year, everyone who signs up to be part of the ASICS Ekiden in Europe will automatically raise funds for organisations championing movement for positive mental health.
Gary Raucher, Executive Vice President, ASICS EMEA said, “ASICS was founded out of adversity. A direct response to a world in crisis in 1949. Our founder Kihachiro Onitsuka recognised the power of sport to lift people’s spirits. Throughout 2021, ASICS is on a mission to inspire as many people as possible to experience the uplifting impact of movement on the mind as a way of achieving a sound mind in a sound body. Back for its second year, the ASICS World Ekiden 2021 is one of the many events we’re hosting across the year that we hope will inspire people to get involved. We’re excited for runners of all levels and abilities everywhere to unite in their teams and combine their collective efforts as they race towards the virtual finish line.”
The town that moved to lift its mood
In the lead up to World Mental Health Day, ASICS, together with the support of mental health charity Mind, transformed the UK town of Retford into ‘Upliftford. The experiment demonstrated the power of movement to uplift the mood of a town, with residents recording a mental uplift of 27%.
Everyone can be part of global research into exercise and mental health
Whether training for the Ekiden or practicing a much-loved sport, ASICS is encouraging everyone to get moving and contribute to vital global research into the impact of exercise on the mind. To take part, people simply need to capture their state of mind, before and after any exercise via the Mind Uplifter™ tool. All results will be added to the collective World Uplift Score and can be tracked live on the World Uplift Map. Everyone who shares their research results in Europe on social media with #UpliftingMinds will also help raise funds for mental health charity Mind.
